Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Agent Quinny: Reporting For Duty *TOP SECRET*
So word is out, I'm about to move up in the mum rankings and gain some much needed credibility in the pram stakes. No longer will I mooch around the shops envying the other 'posh pram' mums - I will have one of my very own.
I am 'a chosen one', I am on a Quinny Mission. A mission that will see undercover reporting on the latest addition to the Quinny range.
I have attached the Top Secret Mission document and highlighted the important information...
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TARGET:
THE QUINNY ZAPP XTRA
ASSIGNED AGENT: Second Time Mummy
AGENT CODE NAME: Quinny
START DATE: September 2010
MISSION COMPLETE: March 2011
MISSION: Acquire 'Target' (photographic intelligence attached), test drive full capabilities, reporting to the masses via social networking sites.
MISSION COMPLETE: March 2011
MISSION: Acquire 'Target' (photographic intelligence attached), test drive full capabilities, reporting to the masses via social networking sites.
NOTE TO AGENT: The Quinny Zapp Xtra has been known to use a number of coloured disguises.
Photographic evidence attached.
YOUR TARGET IS SPECIFICALLY THE BLACK QUINNY ZAPP XTRA - KNOWN ALSO AS "ROCKING BLACK"
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So there you have it, my first mission is now underway. I am about to acquire 'the Target' - I'll report back to you shortly.
Agent Quinny
aka Second Time Mummy
Follow me on Twitter @second_time_mum and look out for the #QuinnyCasters tag or check out my QuinnyCasters profile at QuinnyCasters.com
Tuesday, 21 September 2010
Beauty21 Prize Draw - Mums Beauty Survival Kit
I've teamed up with Beauty21.co.uk to give you the chance to win what I am calling the "Mum's Beauty Survival Kit" consisting of these 3 must haves...
Bio Oil is a wonder product as far as I'm concerned. We use it for so many different things in our house. It's great for stretchmarks, scars, dry skin - anything really!
We're even using it on Alex face at the moment as he has 'war wound' from nursery that we are trying to fade!
This was recommended to be by someone at work and I was a bit sceptical to be honest but now I'm a convert!
You just massage around your eyes and the special ingredients somehow manage to reduce any dark circles or bags under your eyes.
I find using it even wakes me up a little!
These glosses are great for a mum on the run, just one click and your ready to go. It's amazing what a difference a little lip gloss can to do make you look and feel better.
They're available in lots of fruity flavours and they smell great too!
For your chance to win just click here and enter your details. Simples!
Review: Introducing the fabulous BabyDam!!
I was lucky enough to get to test drive the BabyDam before todays big launch and I have to say I'm very impressed. It's definetely going to be big!
This fabulous invention turns your regular bath in to a baby bath in a matter of seconds - saving time, water and most importantly for me - money! And because you're not wasting water - that makes it great for the environment too!
It's great for babies through to toddlers and I love the fact that it's a lot less bulky than your normal baby baths.
You just slot the BabyDam in to your bath and you're ready to fill...
E is really starting to enjoy her baths and this makes everything a lot easier.
It fits all standard straight sided baths and at only £24.00, I think it's a great buy that I will use for many years to come. To find out more or to purchase just visit the BabyDam website.
Follow BabyDam on Twitter @BabyDam and on Facebook for your chance to win your very own BabyDam Bathwater Barrier - they'll be running lots of competitions over the next few weeks.
Monday, 20 September 2010
Ladybird Books - A Gurgle Girls Review
He ripped off the packaging to a jute bag filled with goodies....
For Mister A...
Emergency! Ladybird BIG NOISY Book
As you can imagine this was A's favourite book from the bag.
It's a big board book with detailed pictures of each emergency vehicle. Mister A loves pressing the sound effect buttons as we read through. The pictures of the vehicles are quite detailed so we play a game of "spot" where he has to try and find, for instance, the ladder on the fire engine. Great fun!Even if I can't read this book to him, A will happily sit and make up his own version!
I liked it because it rhymes - all mums love a rhyming book don't they!
It's another board book which is great because A is at that age where he accidentally bends the pages and I have book OCD - I can't bear a folded page or a torn corner!
Spot's Bumper Collection - DVD
We sometimes sit down and watch this to unwind in the evening before Mister A goes off to bed. It's a 1.5 hour DVD with all the best episodes of Spot on one disc to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Spot the Dog.
I can't believe that Spot is 2 years older than me!!
For Little Miss E...
Baby Touch: First Focus Cot Book
It's specially designed to stimulate your new babies eyesight. Research has shown that babies respond best to bold and high contract colours.
It's double sided and folds down in to a square and the best bit about it is that even with the mirror - it's fully hand washable! Hooray!
Baby Touch: Tickly Tiger Rattle Book
MisterA likes to sit read this to Little E when she's in her chair and make up his own story. He'll help her to touch the different textures of the book too!
There's 'something to touch' on each page so it's great for toddlers too!
My lovely children would like to say a big thank you to Ladybird Books and Gurgle for such a lovely goody bag which also included this cute little Spot the Dog toy, a little cuddly Ladybird, a camera and a sticker! And Mummy would like to say thank you for her new Ladybird shopping bag!
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| E's new cot book and Spot toy |
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Breast Feeding: My Story
For me, I knew from the moment that I found out I was pregnant, that I wanted to breastfeed but I was slightly naive in the fact that I thought it would be easy and I'd instinctively know what to do.
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| I can feed discreetly in public with specialist nursing wear |
When Mister A was born in 2007, I had a few problems getting started. I couldn't get him to latch on properly and I ended up with very, very sore nipples. Not one to give up, I talked things through with my midwife and I found a great lying down position that worked for me and baby. Luckily, once I had mastered 'latching on' in that position that I was soon up and running and knew exactly what I was doing.
Yes it was sore for the first few weeks, especially on day 3 when my milk came through -I actually thought that my chest was going to explode! I managed to persevere and with the help of plenty of nipple cream and lots of support from other breastfeeding mums, I ended up breastfeeding A exclusively for the first six months. I would have carried on for longer but I had to go back to work and so I took the decision to move him on to formula.
For me, my mistake was that I never introduced Mister A properly to a bottle. I only ever expressed milk on a couple of occasions but he never took to it so we gave up. When I came to go back to work when he was 6 months old he would not drink anything from a bottle. Whether he was with Grandma or at the nursery he would not adapt and they ended up having to use a cup and let him sip from it when I wasn't there.
Second time around I found breastfeeding so much easier - purely because I knew what to expect. I knew what had worked for me the first time around and Ellissia and I managed to get in to the swing of things straight away.
I do seem to have a lot more milk this time around and that isn't necessarily a good thing - I'm finding it difficult to get through the day without flooding through my clothes. I'm going to start expressing my milk now and freezing it so hopefully that will mean less embarrassing 'wet patch' moments!
Little E is 4 weeks old today and I'm loving every minute of it - except maybe those 4am feeds - I won't miss those once she starts sleeping through!
My advice to other mums...
If anyone ever asks for breastfeeding advice, I always say - express your milk - that way Daddy will have a chance to feed your little one, you'll have a little time to yourself and baby won't have any problems if you are ever apart.
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| Expressing milk can mean you get some 'me time' |
I think the thing to remember is, we are all different, what works for some people, won't work for others. There are plenty of online support groups available if you're struggling or want to find out more about breast feeding and if you can't do it or it's not for you then you shouldn't be made to feel guilty.
I really enjoyed feeding time and although sometimes I felt tired and that I never had any time to myself, I really feel that you bond with your baby during feeding times and that makes me a very happy mummy.
Here's my Breast Feeding Checklist for all you new mummies...
Good quality nursing bras
- make sure you get measured every few weeks to make sure you're well supported
Breast pads
- the last think you need is 2 wet patches on your top when you're doing your shopping
Nipple Cream
- I found that Lansinoh was the only cream that worked for me and you don't have to wipe it off to feed your baby
Nursingwear
- for discreet feeding when you're out and about
Muslin/Burping Cloths
- protect your clothes and mop up and baby mess
Feeding Pillow
- I find a pillow helps me to get a better feeding position and helps prevent a sore back
Bottles and Breast Pump
- make sure there's milk around if you're not there (or give Dad a turn at those 4am feeds!)
Good luck! x
Friday, 17 September 2010
Fashion Friday: Maternity Dresses under £25.00
ASOS currently have a great clearance sale going on and it's packed full of lovelies that you can't afford to miss. I've picked out a couple of dresses that have taken my fancy too but unfortunately I no longer have a bump!
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| Mama.licious for ASOS Jersey Tunic Dress was £23.00 NOW £10.00 |
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| Mama.licious for ASOS Dean Silky Dress was £45.00 NOW £10.00 |
As always ASDA have some great quality low priced maternity wear and I think these two dresses would be perfect for work or play. Dress them up with chunky knits and over bump tights to keep you warm through the Winter months.
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| George Printed Spotted Jersey Tunic Dress £12.50 |
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| George Ditsy Print Dress £14.00 |
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| South Jersey Drape Dress £25.00 |
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| DVO Jersey Dress £25.00 |
New Look have a few maternity sale items like this fab maxi dress but they have some great new pieces too in their Autumn Winter Collection, the Lace Trim Dress is divine!
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| New Look Tee Maxi Dress was £16.00 NOW £10.00 |
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| New Look Lace Trim Dress £22.00 |
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Dorothy Perkins have an excellent range of maternity wear - my local high street store is only small and doesn't have much in the maternity range but it's well worth a look online.
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| Black Fan Print Dress £25.00 |
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| Navy Cross Over Dress was £28.00 NOW £15.00 |
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| TopShop Lace Detail Dress £25.00 |
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| TopShop Navy T-Shirt Drape Maxi Dress £25.00 |
Tuesday, 14 September 2010
Nursing Wear from Pretty Pregnant
My style needs a complete overhaul to allow for my newly bulging boobs, and I need to know that I can breast feed safely and discretely, as and when, without exposing my 'baby belly' - so this fantastic BOOB top is perfect. The 'Vibrant Violet' shade makes it a great addition to your basic wardrobe.
I wore it when I went to meet my friend for coffee and I was able to feed Ellissia with confidence.This long sleeve top has a clever double layer design with an upper layer that you just push aside for discreet breastfeeding, it's the perfect solution to the age old question of how to nurse in comfort and confidence.
I really love the soft material and the basic style of this one and it's 100% organic! So perfect for the cold winter months too. Even if this top's not for you though, have no fear - Pretty Pregnant have tons of stylish nursing wear on offer - so your sure to find something that suits you. Here's a few of my other favourites...
So what are you waiting for? Whether you pregnant or breastfeeding, Pretty Pregnant has an outfit for every occasion.
Monday, 13 September 2010
How cute...
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E's first hair accessory - 3 weeks old x |
I absolutely love them and I'm sure you'll agree that Little E looks gorgeously girly! I'm already planning my next order x
*This is not a sponsored post*
Sunday, 12 September 2010
Free Fire Safety Checks
Have we got safety guards on all of the plug sockets? Have all the cupboards got child safety locks on them? And most importantly for me - is the smoke alarm working?
I have a massive fear of fire and we always make sure that all of our appliances are turned off before we go to bed. A few weeks ago our neighbours had an electrical fire and it caused some quite substantial damage to their home but luckily no one was hurt.
The best way to save a life is to prevent a fire in the first place, and homes across the UK can now benefit from FREE Fire and Rescue Home Fire Safety Checks. And if that isn't enough to persuade you then surely the thought of 3 hunky, uniformed firemen turning up on your door step is!
Friday, 10 September 2010
Our family trip to Legoland Discovery Centre, Manchester - A Picture Review
*This is not a sponsored post*
I recently entered a competition on Twitter to win the chance to do a 'tweet review' of the Legoland Discovery Centre in Manchester. And guess what? The lucky mother that I am - I won a family ticket!
If you're wondering what a 'tweet review' is then search #LDCreview on Twitter to see for yourself!
When we set out, we weren't sure what to expect. We had heard stories of horrendous queues and long waits for the attractions - but we went there with open minds. I have to say- I could tell that Chris was really excited, he loves Lego - but he was trying to be discreet about it.
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| Mister A and Daddy outside LDC Manchester |
We arrived at LDC on Wednesday afternoon and, as the kids had all gone back to school, there were no queues at all and we walked straight in.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
I'm a Gurgle Girl!
I'm soooo excited about this! As you know I won a Gurgle Award earlier this year for 'Best Fashion Blog by a Mummy' and a few weeks ago I was approached by the very same peeps and asked if I would like to become 'a Gurgle Girl'!
Never one to turn down a fabulous opportunity, I gleefully accepted. So now it's official - look I have a badge and everything!
So you're probably wondering what a Gurgle Girl actually is?
Monday, 6 September 2010
Review: Boppy Feeding Pillow from Chicco
I was recently offered the chance to test one of America's best selling feeding pillows - the Boppy - and I jumped at the chance. I breastfed Mister A exclusively for 6 months and this time round I plan to do the same with Little E so for the past 2 weeks I have been using this 'wonder product'.
Sunday, 5 September 2010
Mister A Reviews... The Leapster 2
As you know Mister A loves to learn and if there's one thing he loves more than that, it's getting a new toy - so the arrival of the Leapster 2 was a great day in our house!
It arrived with the Mr Pencil's Learn to Draw & Write Game which is fab because A has learnt to write his own name and we're trying to get him to practice other letters.
We weren't sure how he'd take to the Leapster 2 as Mister A has been playing some educational games on the much more expensive Nintendo DS but he was soon engrossed...
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| Playing "the letter game" |
Thursday, 2 September 2010
No of course I am not back in my jeans yet!
I've just heard that someone has asked the dreaded question...
"Is she back in her pre-pregnancy jeans yet?"
FFS!!!! No of course I am not back in my jeans yet and quite frankly it's rude of you to ask!
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Review: Olay Total Effects Wake Up Wonder
The sample arrived whilst I was in hospital after having Ellissia and as most of you will know things didn't quite go to plan - I lost a litre of blood and ended up in theatre. As you can appreciate, I was naturally drained of energy after giving birth and having lost so much blood I was looking rather grey so I asked Chris to bring it in for me so that I could start the trail and I've been using it ever since.
Saturday, 28 August 2010
Little Miss E - The Birth Story
The last you all heard I had been summoned for induction due to my DVT... so on Saturday evening just before 6pm, Chris and I headed to Grandma's house and said goodbye to Mister A before making our way to the hospital.
We arrived on the antenatal ward (not for the first time in the past few months!) and we were allocated a lovely bed by the window and then we waited...and waited... and 2 hours later, at 8 o'clock, the doctor finally arrived to 'deliver the prostaglandin gel'. After an uncomfortable 5 minutes the deed was done and I had to lay flat for an hour to allow the gel to work and I was hooked up to the fetal monitor.
I had to have this done twice last time around and the gel worked on the second application so I was told that that was good news because it meant my cervix was favourable(!?) and should 'know what to do'.
Thursday, 26 August 2010
Please welcome Little Miss E.... (first pics)
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| Born at 2.06pm on 22nd August 2010 weighing 7lb 14.5oz |
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| Mister A has a cuddle with his baby sister |
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| Daddy's meets Little Miss E |
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| Officially a 'Second Time Mummy'!! |
Friday, 20 August 2010
Big Day Tomorrow
Despite me wanting to have a 'natural labour' and experience all the excitement of waking Chris in the middle of the night and telling him "It's time!" followed by a mad rush to mum's with Mister A - the doctor has advised that I will have to be induced after all.
I went for my term appointment today and was expecting the dreaded 'sweep' but because of all this DVT business she decided not to do it.
As you all know I have been self-injecting my lovely blood thinning medication, Clexane, on a daily basis since they found 'the clot'.Well, I say self-injecting but in truth Chris has been my wonderful nurse and has been doing it for me.
Anyway, it turns out that I need to really have 12 hours between having my medication and actually giving birth or there's a slight possibility that I may bleed to death! Not only that but I need to make sure that I don't miss a dose of my medication or there is another slight possibility that I could end up with a pulmonary embolism! Sounds great!
So, here's the plan...
I am off to the hospital tomorrow to be induced at 6pm ( i take my injection at lunch time) the hope is that baby will be born between midnight and 9am on Sunday so that I can take my medication on time after baby arrives. Simples!?
I don't know what exactly will happen if this little plan doesn't work but, hey-ho, there isn't really much I can do about it!
So there you have it... by the end of the weekend 3 will become 4 and our lives will never be the same again - I'll really be a second time mummy and poor Chris will have 2 girls to deal with!
Wish us luck - next post will be my birth story!! Bye bye bump xx
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